History of Art Photography in the 20th Century

History of Art Photography in the 20th Century: From Documentation to Conceptual Art

Art photography in the 20th century underwent a profound transformation, moving away from its purely documentary use to become a means of aesthetic and conceptual expression. From its beginnings as a technical tool, photography evolved in parallel with the artistic movements and social changes of the century.

In the first decades of the century, photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston championed photography as an autonomous art form, separate from painting. Pictorialism gave way to a purer aesthetic, focused on composition, light, and form. In Europe, the Bauhaus also played a key role by integrating photography into its modernist proposals.

During the interwar period, photography became a witness to and critique of social reality. Photographers such as Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans documented the Great Depression in the United States, while surrealist photography gained strength in Europe with artists such as Man Ray.

Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, photography experienced an opening to new themes and styles. The rise of photojournalism, street photography, and the use of the camera as a political tool marked this era. Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, and Garry Winogrand explored the margins of society, questioning visual and cultural norms.

In the final decades of the century, with the rise of conceptual art and digital media, photography freed itself from its technical constraints to become a vehicle for ideas. Artists such as Cindy Sherman, Jeff Wall, and Nan Goldin introduced personal narratives, gender critiques, and visual experimentation that expanded the boundaries of photography.

The 20th century consolidated photography as one of the most influential art forms in contemporary art, paving the way for the digital explorations of the 21st century.
Latamarte